https://www.irwinmclean.com/home daily 1.0 2021-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604428552115-1I8YACH5OMTH51874Z97/IMG_1160edit2.jpg Home - Roger & Brian Eno A major highlight of 2020 was when one of my short films was chosen by Roger Eno and Brian Eno as the official online video for their composition “Moss”, from their “Mixing Colours” album. Various links here – https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588937588784-JSYDC0OKHI87MXS7ZWPY/SlagganGables+IG.jpg Home - Photography Original photographs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588877189301-J1A4Z3B4OP1Y2L0ANOYS/IMG_1183crop.jpg Home - Video Short videos – mostly timelapse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588941357171-D8NOMCD85QO5X3U78BXI/Trout_cover.jpg Home Fishing Teleost species I’ve caught and eaten https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588942104458-270DH7RPRVS7GCU3OLHC/McLeans1928sepia_750x500comp.jpg Home - Genealogy McLean family tree – work in progress https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588617416690-OIVCYUTBKXVL2UEQ3W0Q/IMG_1942.jpg Home - Any other crack? Assorted stuff, mainly stupid, mostly harmless https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588941100433-PCJ7W14S0IK6DUR64XA4/K5_FLG_750x500.jpg Home Science Highlights of my former research career https://www.irwinmclean.com/science daily 0.75 2024-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589036946894-97J7MF27NW2PER17D4RM/EBS_PC_comp2.jpg Science - Keratin disorders (Panel a) Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary skin blistering disorder caused by genetic mutations in either the keratin K5 or K14 genes, plus some other genes. I was involved discovering some of the genes that cause various forms of EBS, as well as progressing therapy development for this and related skin diseases. (Panel b) Pachyonychia congenita (PC) is an inherited skin disease causing thickening and blistering of certain parts of the skin, particularly the palms and soles. I discovered the cause of this disorder and several other related conditions. These diseases are painful, highly debilitating and remain incurable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589037916986-TA8U31EBD3ZFP5YH0WGM/Eczema.jpg Science - Atopic dermatitis (eczema) My career high, in 2005/6, was discovering the major gene (FLG; filaggrin) that is involved in predisposing people to develop eczema, allergy and asthma. My lab and our collaborators showed that an inherited deficiency of the filaggrin protein allows allergens and irritants into the skin, triggering these allergic conditions. (Panel a) Atopic dermatitis (eczema) causes itchy inflammation of the skin, particularly in infants and young children. Many of these individuals go on to develop one or more allergies to various foods, dust mites, pet hair, pollen etc. Some develop an allergic form of asthma. Collectively, these conditions affect more than 20% of the human population. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1596891376628-JWCXRGY85F8YYEYP5HVT/Buchanan.jpg Science - Buchanan Medal of the Royal Society (2015) Awarded to Irwin McLean by the Royal Society “for his major contribution to our understanding of the genetic basis of heritable skin diseases.” Royal Society profile page: click here. https://www.irwinmclean.com/photos daily 0.75 2021-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1581814121038-LX76Q3MA0TDTKLAS13K0/IMG_2862.jpg Photo Loch an t-Sionnach, Mellon Charles, Wester Ross https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1592396056712-SSPJXBORL8ZEUA84X7TS/IMG_4422.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1592396647642-1CB8QQEMVYID6GR3M6DH/IMG_9618.jpg Photo 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Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593502619589-5Z9YO4XJN9N0DVB9FBJE/SlagganGables+IG.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593559194108-LRMST6MD0WYLTNASU81H/IMG_1769.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593580888830-EGVNWVF5LCWGXAWEKVBU/IMG_1541.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593937997465-0B3MBJ24004P1ABS4T1B/IMG_2073.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1603990403454-OO6UU8Y7WRVG3G40PHHZ/IMG_3246.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1605127208356-C96N3ST1JGAZ9TNGYOQ8/IMG_3785.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1581814961436-C3DR1M3BHLEPK2DB17MT/IMG_2901.jpg Photo 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Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1581814971797-59BHKYKJ3CR0U81LI80X/IMG_2826.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1592396087516-SGT7OIQ383DANG6W3WRP/IMG_4436.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593559314748-3DDQ4RUX1G9KNGUTA4EU/IMG_1714.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593938045810-CKYFBRS8LXCIPY7MAEER/IMG_2067.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593939128123-6KLVMGOM2PCK3JYZGKLU/IMG_1577.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1603990497904-8B5LOF4AQWRGQSC3R85G/IMG_3290.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1605127135603-666XEQS9WAALVHV6QP41/IMG_3872.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1592396190956-8XGLP48ODVFK5U1PBQ1P/IMG_4385.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1593939740676-AUW70VGHB0XW80U6C16L/IMG_1650.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1603990539437-OGZ3M4Y8MROAQGUGUD7D/IMG_3308.jpg Photo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1592396194831-0J7DJ96R7ZZEN4LLQN0O/IMG_4379+%281%29.jpg Photo https://www.irwinmclean.com/fishing daily 0.75 2020-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589048293382-Z1TJO38QSM9JWOVT91DZ/IMG_2077+%281%29.jpg Fish https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1582657235643-0RXEFGWZEMKPC044EZFM/IMG_0555.jpg Fish Brown Trout, Assynt, Scotland https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589048153233-UECCD5HWK3ASGVZMLPSY/IMG_2079.jpg Fish https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1582657314300-R9RWRD9QXTT3XQO50JKO/IMG_0645.jpg Fish https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1582657368346-AWBYZLATWG0CTZOA9IXW/IMG_0958.jpg Fish Brown Trout, Mellon Charles, Wester Ross https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589048344568-XJVN1Q3QIIPZ359QF7GX/IMG_2075.jpg Fish https://www.irwinmclean.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-12-18 https://www.irwinmclean.com/craic daily 0.75 2020-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588979300139-QDZKOAZS7Q3EMPDZ319A/IMG_3933.jpg Craic - What’s the craic? According to Wikipedia (May 2020): Craic (/kræk/ KRAK) or crack is a term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation, particularly prominent in Ireland. It is often used with the definite article – the craic – as in the expression "What's the craic?" (meaning "How are you?" or "What's happening?"). BTW, I personally prefer the spelling crack but nowadays it tends to get confused with some manner of recreational pharmacology. I tend to use both as the mood takes me. Scroll down and you’ll get the gist of what craic/crack is. Photo: Art installation, Salt Lake City. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1602328601191-ECX2T36M97TKJT1X30CN/Pestilence+2020.jpg Craic - 2020 – one hell of a year! For a good example of “bad craic” see the year 2020. Meme idea, 10th October 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588987618816-OW7WAO3G2NSTFVWSDRIU/Brick.jpg Craic - I love my brick* If this makes no sense to you, then watch the TV show Father Ted, particularly the episode entitled Speed 3. Aulbea, Wester Ross. * Brick appears courtesy of BBC – Ballymoney Brick Company https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588987956624-Z3EC92O3WP1FZFV9B6SY/IMG_3332.jpg Craic - Reflections Multilayered, like an onion – thin-skinned, smelly & makes you cry. Self-portrait(s) taken with an iPhone or possibly some kind of cyberpunk photgraphic mouthpiece thingy. Harbour Street, Plockton, Lochalsh, Wester Ross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588989874517-1VXLFXIG059HBFM2QACP/IMG_2107.jpg Craic - For fork’s sake! I think that’s been there a while. Murie cemetery, near Errol, Perthshire. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588990161905-3GVSYFLFMX35Y85S6Y0J/IMG_1471.jpg Craic - Fits like a fence Got to hand it to those highlanders, they recycle everything, right down to the wire. Opinan beach, by Badachro, Wester Ross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589031631024-2VGKJF7VO6HWTPZIBPGR/IMG_7969.jpg Craic - Christmas Cracker After a few attempts, I managed to get the house, stars and flashing head torch visible in one 30 second exposure. Believe it or not, I’m actually running around in this photo but I’m not visible because I’m not bright enough, as it were. Christmas 2019, Aultbea, Wester Ross. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589032093351-3MD66JU3C4H8GPMWA5E6/IMG_0079.jpg Craic - Don’t even ask Deep Space Music charity CD promotion, 2004. Declan Lunny (cello), Alan Prescott (space umbrella), Irwin McLean (product placement). Inchcoonans, Errol, Perthshire, beside Irwin’s shed. (If you want to hear it, I may have a spare copy. Contact me.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589032695324-U0EZH2AFDSU92UW8S2DV/irwinmclean_stac_pollaidh.jpg Craic - Knife-edge McLean In a land of mountains and lochs. Top of Stac Pollaidh, with Suilven behind. https://www.irwinmclean.com/genealogy daily 0.75 2022-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1588978331226-DD2N8CTD5MAENTKLK4P3/McLeans1928sepia_750x500comp.jpg Genealogy - State of play, 2022 I’ve divided our family tree into two halves – McLean (nearing completion) and McAleese (in progress). The McLean tree is on Ancestry.co.uk under the name “Irwin McLean, Dervock, Northern Ireland, Family Tree” and is public. My username on Ancestry is “whimclean”. My Ancestry DNA data is also public (under “Irwin McLean”). Photo: My McLean grandparents and family, late 1920s, Dervock, County Antrim. Back row (L–R): Bobby, Bill, Alec, James, Henry (my dad). Front row (L–R): William McLean, Jeannie (foster child), Nancy McLean (neé Hanna). Inset: My immediate family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1589083644133-7YYZPSIEHORTSC5YHOFE/Henry+to+Isaac+tree.png Genealogy https://www.irwinmclean.com/video daily 0.75 2025-06-14 https://www.irwinmclean.com/eno daily 0.75 2021-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431617960-26BXMIQDBZN1387WFXXI/IMG_1160.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604430198183-X2FN733SME1Z31Z9PMH9/IMG_1160.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431214502-JYHNE6LXVC1UIQS3NI8J/IMG_1209.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431794415-YLXIMF8511G384D07CSX/IMG_1209.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431302416-QR3ZLGDWJBOLG1O4UWAW/IMG_1218.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431397369-P4C7G9L1DYUFDBJ5K7E5/IMG_1233.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431819339-1VRC7DSVGCIZSDENU3VK/IMG_1218.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604431902077-VRZD3O6EJ1XBVCNH2U4N/IMG_1233.jpg Mixing Colours https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/1604432288124-D4IPTD2MQRCOG8GPXK6O/IMG_7088text.jpg Mixing Colours https://www.irwinmclean.com/mum-dad daily 0.75 2022-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/892ca5f8-81f3-48f3-b1ed-a7caadac2e5b/Rosetta_McAleese_600w_copy.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e4714c00fd98149b74f141b/04643ff3-ee88-49ba-b85f-617a9a8b8d6a/Henry_montage_40px_margin.jpg https://www.irwinmclean.com/patient-support daily 0.75 2024-08-06 https://www.irwinmclean.com/take-action daily 0.75 2026-03-03